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A Night at the Symphony

Over the past few months I have come to discover that there’s nothing like a night of good music to soothe the tired and weary (or perhaps happy and giddy!) soul. There’s really something magical with music that just makes things so much better, yes? No matter what genre, no matter what style, it always speaks deeply to me and just at the right time.

Anyway, I’m digressing from the purpose of this post (haha). I actually thought of that whole magical musical thing because of two points: first I’m kinda hoping I get to see the Seussical the Musical by Repertory Philippine next week and second, because  a friend of mine tagged me in this post  about an upcoming concert to be held at the Philam Life Theater in Manila on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011. Sounds like an interesting way to spend the weekend, yes? Check out more of it here: http://symphonicpassion.org/about.html

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Little Miss Crammer Comes to Visit…

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this side of me and um…..I don’t think I can do this anymore!!! Haha. Yes, I am talking about cramming. Today, for example, I am trying to catch up on grades, papers and my presentation. I went to the computer and yes, much as I know I am supposed to print exams and stuff ahead of time but because I did not plan ahead, I am stuck!Both laser printers are out of ink!!! Egaaaad.

Like I said before…there comes a time in life when one must admit that cramming no longer suits their lifestyle. And yes, for me, I have gotten to that point. Haha.

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Goodbye Archer’s Field

Yes, I know I am about a year late but yesterday as I was walking through campus, I saw the spot where the football field used to be and saw the new steel buildings rising from where it used to be. It suddenly made me a wee bit sad to see all the concrete and steel in that once green field in the middle of the busy campus. I remember having watched my sister practice in that field many times over (she was the captain of the football team ) and how my mom and I would often cheer her on during games, albeit in different venues and never in the DLSU field. Yes, talk about a bit of nostalgia. I felt suddenly claustrophobic too, as there was suddenly a wall right there greeting me. But then again, I’m sure when this building is done, it will give the campus a whole new vibe again. Let’s see where this goes, shall we?

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Harnessing Children’s Learning Styles

Over the past term I have come to realize that harnessing a child’s learning style really doesn’t end at the preschool level. Rather, it is a lifelong experience. Let me put it in context: when I am teaching classes with, let’s say, Engineering majors, I find that they do not enjoy some activities (nor are they able to appreciate for that matter) that my Liberal Arts students find so much delight in. For example, when we do role playing exercises or perhaps visual illustrations, their responses are very different from the more artsy students I have. I guess it’s part of learning styles after all, right? I bet if I asked them to illustrate something mechanical or to give me instructions on how to change a tire or on rv repair they can easily explain it with no difficulty at all. As for me understanding it, that’s a different story haha.

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That Time of the Term Again

I  miss blogging.

I miss reading non-intellectual stuff.

I miss lounging in bed and being lazy.

I miss being free to go to yoga anytime I want.

Yes, it’s that time of the term again and much as I have learned to not be a super crammer anymore, this time I am finding myself inundated with so much work. I guess trying to write my thesis, preparing for a convention, and taking on heavy majors classes wasn’t such a brilliant combination. HAHA.

Oh well…as I always do, I will survive!!! Just a few more weeks….

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To Make Up or Not To Make Up, That is the Question

One of my biggest frustrations in class is when my students miss my exams It’s not the fact that they are absent that gets to me, it’s the fact that I feel caught in the middle because of it. On one hand, I want to give my students a chance to make up for the exam they missed (or activity for that matter). On the other, I don’t want to because I feel it is unfair to those who made it to class. Sigh.

Yes, I know that there are valid excuses for the absences, sometimes I can’t help but feel a wee bit skeptical at times. Sure they may have medical certificates and can present letters from the best austin allergist for example, but at times, I can’t help but ask questions about it.  It’s not that I want to doubt them, but there have been those times when I have caught students making up feeling sick just because they weren’t ready for their exams. Siiiiigh….

Yes, this is a rant from teacher coz I just gave an exam and yep…someone missed it.

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Toys of Today

I don’t know if it’s just me, but have you noticed how complicated toys of today can be?!? Gaaawd. Let me put it in context….last Sunday, we celebrated my niece’s third birthday. Of course she received a lot of presents to mark the occasion, right? One of the gifts she got was this princess set. It was kinda like a doll house, but it was a castle. It came complete with towers, horses and carriages, a garden and a drawbridge etcetera etcetera. Not only was it difficult to assemble it, getting it out of the box was such a complicated matter I tell ya! Haha. It was funny though that while  I couldn’t figure out how to hook those rings like a trailer hitch in the carriage, the three year old simply slipped it together and viola, a hooked carriage to the horses reins. Okay okay…maybe the toys weren’t complicated after all. Maybe it’s me. Haha.

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Never on Any Day

I never really understood what not wearing white after Labour Day meant. Perhaps it’s a western thing or a culturally bound expression? If you know what it means, do share it with me! Yes, this is teacher being too lazy to even Google it. Haha. Seriously though, one thing I have learned as a former preschool teacher is you really should never wear white, especially pants, on ANY day. Haha. Every time I’d wear white, for some reason I’d end up with either paint or glue on it. When I’d wear jeans, on the other hand, nothing ever happens. Toink. Teehee.

Random, right? Well, I was just thinking about what to wear tomorrow for work and pulled out an old pair of white pants and couldn’t help but remember all my white day mishaps in the preschool Gnyt guys!

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A Teacher’s Journal

Earlier this year a friend of mine gave me this as a present. It is a daily journal for teachers, filled with little snippets of wisdom and inspiration on one side and a blank sheet for journal writing on the opposite side. Sadly I never got to use it while I was teaching in the preschool, but for some reason, I find myself drawn to it almost daily. I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but well, I’m going with it

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Oh There Went My Money!

I came across an site today called “This is Why I’m Broke” and it made me laugh a whole lot. Well, mainly because it mirrored exactly what I have been thinking about these past few weeks. I’ve been trying to sort out my finances and came to the conclusion that I spend too much on useless things. Things that are cute, things that are fun, things that I enjoy, but definitely things I don’t need much. Like what, you wonder? Well, for one, junk food. Secondly, I spend too much on accessories like bags and shoes. And gadgets. Sigh. I should be thinking more about things that I should be investing in at this point in time (and in the same time, where I am in my career) such as stocks perhaps, or property, and even getting the best term life insurance that will give me back something in return or allow my money to grow. But yeah, where’s the fun in that, right? Haha.

Seriously, though…yeah, I should change my spending habits.

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